First Aid

I dont see the 'rub some dirt on it' or 'put on your big girl panties' remedies. :D
 
First off, that's a great looking fire rod....:)

Now, having kids, I didn't see the bactine. The best part is letting them read the "stops the pain" back to you before you use it. For me, don't underestimate the psychological power of persuasion. Having a "no-itch stick" or some "Tiger Balm" has proven very effective when you just gotta deal with it and you've got an irrational patient-- and who among us has not been "that guy."

As a dad, a guy who doesn't shy away from emergency rooms, and so forth; do not underestimate the amazing, restorative, placebo, etc., power of just doing something.

I've also come to believe if there is a potential of arterial bleeding that a tourniquet is weight well spent.
 
Thanks Mist, that was good read. We just re-did all our first aid kits prior to our trip and I have ones that are essentially in the same size ranges, S, M & L - one that goes eveywhere and fits in most places and fanny packs, a medium one for overnight and backpacking, and then a larger one that stays in the truck all the time. My various sizes are all a bit larger than those shown and I'm sure much of the stuff I carry on a regular basis is overboard, but it's a holdover from when my wife and I did externsive firearms training.
 
Awesome lil read plus you always have such sweet pics in all of you posts and reviews thank you for sharing.
 
swonut said:
First off, that's a great looking fire rod....:)

Now, having kids, I didn't see the bactine. The best part is letting them read the "stops the pain" back to you before you use it. For me, don't underestimate the psychological power of persuasion. Having a "no-itch stick" or some "Tiger Balm" has proven very effective when you just gotta deal with it and you've got an irrational patient-- and who among us has not been "that guy."

As a dad, a guy who doesn't shy away from emergency rooms, and so forth; do not underestimate the amazing, restorative, placebo, etc., power of just doing something.

I've also come to believe if there is a potential of arterial bleeding that a tourniquet is weight well spent.
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Thanks, actually there are a couple of awesome ferro rods in that blog post :)

I'm still trying to find a source for the Bactine in the small portable locking spray bottles. For now I have the Neosporine plus pain relief spray in each of the kits. Yeah, the big thing with kids is for them to see you remaining calm and not panicking. The day Andrew cut his hand it was a personal day for us. We had our kids out trail walking, looking at plants and practicing skills. When he cut himself he remained calm and we let the kids assist in getting out the kits, then sanitizing their hands and opening the supplies for him, while he explained what was going on. As usual, once I realized it wasn't all that severe, I took photos :)

Oh, I firmly agree. I certainly hope I never have to use one, but since I have been trained in the use of them and how to improvise them in the field... and have seen enough stuff go wrong, I always have a way and a game plan for making and using them if the need arises. In cases where the hospital is less than an hour away (total time after tourniquet) there is little chance of damage from restricting the blood flow to the tissues. If the total trip time is 6 hours or more, there will more than likely be a need for amputation. In general after 2 hours is when the complications start.


M4Super90 said:
Thanks Mist, that was good read. We just re-did all our first aid kits prior to our trip and I have ones that are essentially in the same size ranges, S, M & L - one that goes eveywhere and fits in most places and fanny packs, a medium one for overnight and backpacking, and then a larger one that stays in the truck all the time. My various sizes are all a bit larger than those shown and I'm sure much of the stuff I carry on a regular basis is overboard, but it's a holdover from when my wife and I did externsive firearms training.
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Glad you liked it. I like to go through mine occasionally and replace older items with better options when available. In most cases, if I am near my truck, then I will have all three kits available, and another large one at home.


BIGGORILLAINK said:
Awesome lil read plus you always have such sweet pics in all of you posts and reviews thank you for sharing.
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Thanks man, glad you like the posts!
 
Do you carry oral benadryl? That is a good first response anti-histamine when an epi-pen might not be warranted.

Clorhexidine has proven to be a very effective superficial disinfectant.

I also carry:

+ Candy bar or glucose tabs for blood sugar.

+ Aspirin for cardiac response.

+ PLB beacon for serious injury or getting lost

Thanks for the post.
 
Vayu said:
Do you carry oral benadryl? That is a good first response anti-histamine when an epi-pen might not be warranted.

Clorhexidine has proven to be a very effective superficial disinfectant.

I also carry:

+ Candy bar or glucose tabs for blood sugar.

+ Aspirin for cardiac response.

+ PLB beacon for serious injury or getting lost

Thanks for the post.
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Yes, tablets for adults and chewables for the children. I also have hydroxyzine hcl. Lol, the primary reason for using the bottle carrier as a cooler was a day when I found a candy bar I left in the truck and it was soft from the heat. I stuck it in the bottle carrier to solidify it again. Since that time it has carried various meets, cheeses, and chocolates :)
 
Good blog post. One savvy ambo/first aid instructor advised us to carry cling wrap to keep wounds/burns clean.
Cling wrap and tape can also be used to fashion a valve over a sucking wound to let fluid out while preventing air from getting in. Maybe don't take my word for it though; things may have changed and a little recent training goes a long way.
 
Great blog! I've been working on building a car first aid kit for a while, I've had so many instances where one would have been useful that I finally decided to get one made and put in my car. I also always have a small one with me in any backpack I take into the mountains. Benedryl as others have mentioned, is something that is left out of a lot of store bought first aid but is such a necessary addition.
 
Chris Larrikin said:
Good blog post. One savvy ambo/first aid instructor advised us to carry cling wrap to keep wounds/burns clean.
Cling wrap and tape can also be used to fashion a valve over a sucking wound to let fluid out while preventing air from getting in. Maybe don't take my word for it though; things may have changed and a little recent training goes a long way.
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Thank you. usually if we are going to be out for a while I will have cling wrap around for other uses, but hadn't thought about adding it to the first aid kits. I don't personally have any formal EMT training, that's one of the reasons I chose Andrew as an assistant. My first aid kits are set up for more common injuries in the field, and for when we are working with inexperienced people studying the use of sharp tools and learning fire craft. If Andrew and his brother Phillip are around, both of whom are EMT trained and Phillip is a nurse, with our combined first aid kits we are pretty well set up for the beginnings of the apocalypse :)


Odaon said:
Great blog! I've been working on building a car first aid kit for a while, I've had so many instances where one would have been useful that I finally decided to get one made and put in my car. I also always have a small one with me in any backpack I take into the mountains. Benedryl as others have mentioned, is something that is left out of a lot of store bought first aid but is such a necessary addition.
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Thank you! I spend much of my time testing various cutting tools and prototypes, and doing so where I am at least an hour away from a hospital that I have to think about the possibilities. Being a father of very active children has taught me to always have a minimal kit on hand. I agree, I live in a temperate rain forest, and we have so many types of pollen, so many different insects, and then three plants of the Toxicdendron genus that are quite wide spread. I am never out without benadryl for both adults and children.
 
Chris Larrikin said:
Cling wrap and tape can also be used to fashion a valve over a sucking wound to let fluid out while preventing air from getting in.
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A credit card or DL and duct tape will work as well but you have to make sure it stays clear if there is significant bleeding. With any puncture wound to the chest, watch for a tension pneumothorax. I also keep a 10-12 ga. needle in my bag in case you need to relieve the pressure build up.
 
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Paris Island taught us to stop the bleeding, clear the airway, protect the wound and treat for shock. That is the extent of my EMT training, and that was for combat situations. Well stocked first aid kits are essential when doing anything outdoors, from fishing to hunting to camping, or as Brian points out, hiking along a semi urban trail. Another well written and beautifully illustrated blog post Brian. We all need to keep these basics front and center in our minds when we prepare to go afield.
 
M4Super90 said:
A credit card or DL and duct tape will work as well but you have to make sure it stays clear if there is significant bleeding. With any puncture wound to the chest, watch for a tension pneumothorax. I also keep a 10-12 ga. needle in my bag in case you need to relieve the pressure build up.
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Thanks, I'll have to remember that.


McVeyMac said:
Paris Island taught us to stop the bleeding, clear the airway, protect the wound and treat for shock. That is the extent of my EMT training, and that was for combat situations. Well stocked first aid kits are essential when doing anything outdoors, from fishing to hunting to camping, or as Brian points out, hiking along a semi urban trail. Another well written and beautifully illustrated blog post Brian. We all need to keep these basics front and center in our minds when we prepare to go afield.
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Thank you sir, and i agree. As much as we all like to play with our sharp pointy things, I think we should all keep some basic first aid supplies around :)
 
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